Illumination apparatus for vehicle accessory

• US 10,308,175 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Cooprider, Anthony Dwayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Thai
• Application Number:
  US15/259,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20180065546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for a vehicle accessory is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a lighting device disposed proximate the vehicle accessory comprising a persistent luminescent portion. The persistent luminescent portion is configured to charge in response to an excitation emission from a light source. The apparatus further comprises a detection sensor configured to detect a device proximate the vehicle and a controller configured to activate the light source in response to the detection. The light source is configured to charge the persistent luminescent portion to emit an output emission.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a light producing assembly of an accessory port of the vehicle comprising a persistent luminescent portion configured to charge in response to receiving an excitation emission comprising a first wavelength from a light source;

a detection sensor configured to detect a mobile device proximate the vehicle; and

a controller configured to activate the light source in response to the detection of the mobile device to charge the persistent luminescent portion to emit an output emission comprising a second wavelength.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection sensor corresponds to a wireless radio transceiver in communication with the controller.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detection sensor is configured to detect an approaching occupant by detecting a communication of the device via the wireless radio transceiver.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to identify that the occupant is approaching the vehicle based on a proximity profile of the device.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to charge the persistent luminescent portion in response to the detection of the approaching occupant.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a global positioning device configured to identify a position of the vehicle in communication with the controller.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to identify a location where the vehicle is parked for a predetermined period of time based on the location from the global positioning device.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a door sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the door sensor is configured to identify an ajar status of a door of the vehicle.

9. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a lighting assembly disposed proximate an electronic accessory port, the electronic accessory port comprising a persistent luminescent portion configured to charge in response to receiving an excitation emission from a light source;

a location detection device configured to detect a location of the vehicle; and

a controller configured to activate the light source to emit the excitation emission in response to the location of the vehicle matching a predetermined parking location.

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to identify the predetermined parking location in response to the location detection device identifying that the vehicle is parked in the predetermined parking location for a predetermined period of time.

11. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller is operable to identify that the vehicle is approaching the parking location in response to the location of the vehicle being within a predetermined distance of the parking location.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to charge the persistent luminescent portion to emit an output emission of light sustained by the charge after the excitation emission is deactivated in response to the identification that the vehicle is approaching the parking location.

13. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the excitation emission from a time period when the vehicle is within the predetermined distance to a time when the vehicle is parked proximate the parking location thereby charging the persistent luminescent portion.

14. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the excitation emission corresponds to a first color of light and the output emission corresponds to a second color of light different from the first color.

15. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lighting assembly comprises a first light generating layer printed in a first liquid suspension configured to emit the excitation emission.

16. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a light sensor in communication with the controller configured to communicate an ambient light signal to the controller to control the intensity of the at least one of the excitation emission.

17. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lighting assembly forms a portion of the electronic accessory port configured to illuminate the electronic accessory port.

18. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a light producing assembly forming a portion of an electronic accessory of the vehicle, the light producing assembly comprising a persistent luminescent portion configured to;

charge in response to an excitation emission from a light source; and

emit an output emission comprising a second wavelength of light sustained by the charge after the excitation emission is deactivated;

a wireless radio transceiver configured to detect a mobile device proximate the vehicle; and

a controller configured to activate the light source in response to the detection of the mobile device proximate to the vehicle thereby charging the persistent luminescent portion.

19. The illumination apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the excitation emission corresponds to a first color of light and the output emission corresponds to a second color of light different from the first color output in response to the persistent luminescent portion receiving the excitation emission.